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RH: You’ve certainly arrived with a bit of a bang. Two years ago no one had heard of you. It must be strange being a celebrity all of a sudden. Is it weird or are you getting used to it?
Rihanna: No, I’m not getting used to it yet. It’s very weird. Weird but it’s a great feeling. It’s special and it means a lot to me when I see my picture in a magazine.

RH: How do your friends and family react to your fame?
Rihanna: Oh, they’re unbelievably supportive. They’re very proud. And they miss me and I miss them. I miss them more than they miss me, I think.

RH: You seem to be very driven. Earlier in your career you released two albums in a very short space of time. What is the reason for doing it this way?
Rihanna: Well, I thought like I’d grown so much that I really just wanted to show people how much I’ve progressed and the next level that we’re at. We just took everything to the next level with the videos, the music, the entire album is crazy. I just really wanted to show people. Cos they’d be stuck on the first album not really knowing how much I’ve grown and I really wanted to show them. For me, it’s all about getting better and getting to the next level.

RH: So what’s going to be the next project? Word on the street is you’re also doing movies?
Rihanna: Well, not really. I just did a small cameo in the sequel to Bring It On. I had to judge a cheerleading competition. I play myself and the winning team got to perform with me at the end. It was a lot of fun.

RH: Would you like to do more acting?
Rihanna: Only to a certain extent because I love what I do right now and this will always be the bigger picture. Maybe I’ll do movies on the side, in addition to this, but I will always put my music first.

RH: You’re a pretty fit lass and you dress to impress. Do you like teasing the boys; are you a natural flirt?
Rihanna: [Laughs] It’s not on purpose! I dress to suit the occasion. Like the pink thing I wore in my video, I wouldn’t wear that in the street. I wouldn’t wear that to a football game. It suits the occasion.

RH: Are you a typical female shopaholic then?
Rihanna: I like to shop but I wouldn’t say I’m addicted to it.

RH: So do you have any hidden vices or addictions?
Rihanna: Erm, using the phone.

RH: How much time do you spend on it?
Rihanna: Well, I don’t get much time to spend on the phone but any break I get I will be on the phone. You know, because I’m in this world all the time it’s my only way of getting out. I like to communicate with other people, like people in Barbados, my family, my friends. It’s my way to escape.

RH: What else do you do to relax? Do you get much spare time?
Rihanna: I haven’t had a day off in four months!

RH: What’s the strangest experience you’ve had with a fan so far?
Rihanna: A fan stole my manager’s phone and started calling me at, like, ridiculous hours in the morning.

RH: God, that must have been a bit creepy?
Rihanna: Well, I think it’s wrong to steal someone’s phone, but at the same time I know they’re just eager to speak to me, which makes me feel good. But I still feel bad about what they did in order to speak to me, if you know what I mean.

RH: Do you see yourself as a role model?
Rihanna: Absolutely. I do feel like a role model. Because I always used to look up to people and I have role models myself. But knowing I’m, like, a role model puts a lot of extra pressure on me knowing that I’ve got to keep my eyes open, be on my guard, make sure I’m always setting the right examples. Because knowing that girls are looking at me as a role model means a lot to me.

RH: So, who are your role models?
Rihanna: Beyoncé. I love Beyoncé.

RH: Have you ever met her?
Rihanna: Yeah, I met her a couple of times. She is so sweet and very beautiful inside and out.

RH: You should duet with her.
Rihanna: Oh my gosh. That would be incredible.

RH: Does it bother you when stuff is written about you on the internet that’s not true?
Rihanna: I kind of expect that to happen probably. But it’s OK to me. People just probably heard the wrong thing and put the wrong information out.

RH: What are you into right now? What gets Rihanna excited?
Rihanna: Music, friends, food, partying and shopping. I tell my tour manager that I’m going shopping for 20 minutes, but it’s normally an hour or two. I love shopping!

RH: So, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?
Rihanna: It’s probably a pair of shoes.

RH: How many pairs do you own?
Rihanna: A lot!

RH: If you’re heading out for some grub, what’s your favourite?
Rihanna: I love Italian and West Indian.

RH: Presumably you miss the West Indian cooking of home?
Rihanna: I sure do.

RH: Is it difficult to get food like mum makes around the world? There’s a big Caribbean population here in the UK, so presumably it’s a bit easier here?
Rihanna: It’s difficult to get good West Indian food. But yeah, the UK has the best so far.

RH: So you’re into friends and partying. What’s really getting to you at the moment? What really hacks you off?
Rihanna: Dishonesty and vegetables.

RH: Vegetables?!
Rihanna: I love fruit. I can eat fruit all day long. But, no to vegetables! I like carrots and corn. I can get away with that, but greens? No! Oh and I also hate pimples and blemishes. And I hate school too!

RH: If you could listen to one album for the rest of your life what would it be?
Rihanna: Bob Marley, Legend.

RH: Tell me a secret. Anything unusual that people don’t know about you?
Rihanna: I love tattoos.

RH: Do you have any?
Rihanna: Not yet but I want one. I’m scared though. I’m getting one in a few weeks.

RH: If the pop career ended tomorrow and you weren’t a celeb, what would you be?
Rihanna: A psychologist.

Rihanna plays the Cardiff Indoor Arena on Wednesday December 19. For tickets and further info call the box office on 029 2022 4488 or see www.livenation.co.uk. For news and downloads log on to www.thisisrihanna.com

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